Passive House by Mareines Arquitetura
House lands in São Paulo, Brazil as a ground-up residence by Mareines Arquitetura, cast for autonomy and calm within a reforested plot. The house leans on passive strategies and a cloister-like garden to organize daily life and cool the rooms without machines. It’s a house project aimed at simplicity and connection to the land, with an expressive brick roof that gathers water and generous eaves that temper heat.
A brick arc catches the sun and throws a soft shadow. Below, water slips along quiet edges toward the pool as trees fold the garden inward.
This is a house in the interior of São Paulo by Mareines Arquitetura, planned as a simple, autonomous home grounded in a reforested site. The throughline is context: every move engages the land, from the inward garden to the rain-fed pool and the shade that cools daily life.
Garden as Anchor
The plan begins with a walled triangular garden, planted densely and held by three architectural arms. It works like a contemporary cloister, a quiet court for pause and meditation. Edges define calm rather than walls, and planting thickens the perimeter so rooms look inward when needed. Movement traces the garden’s sides, and light skims across water to mark gentle thresholds.
Roof Gathers Water
An exposed brick roof dominates the silhouette: its pronounced curvature steers rain toward a central run and down to the pool for reuse. The roof reads as both cover and instrument, a working element tied to climate and collection. Brick’s texture adds heft while the arc sheds heat, setting a steady shade line over terraces. It turns weather into resource with minimal fuss.
Shaded, Cool Rooms
Double slabs and deep eaves buffer heat gain across the day — the house runs comfortably without air conditioning. Openings line up to encourage breeze, so cross-ventilation scrubs warm air from the larger rooms. On the ground level, social areas and guest suites read as one continuous field. Furniture placement, a water mirror, roof curvature, and light gradients set distinct atmospheres without hard partitions.
Private Upper Retreat
Above the garden, the master suite sits apart with an office and a broad view across the land. Privacy holds even when visitors stay below, since the upper volume lifts clear of the cloistered court. Daily use aligns cleanly: guests flow through the social rooms and terraces, while the family retreats upward when quiet work or sleep calls. Simple moves yield a clear rhythm.
Built With the Site
The reforested plot shapes everything, from planting strategy to orientation and drainage. Materials read honest and grounded, so the house feels drawn up from the soil rather than placed on top. Water cycles visibly, shade is designed as a living element, and views land on trees and sky. The result is steady and calm.
Evening drops and the brick arc cools to touch. In the garden, reflected light softens as the pool settles and the rooms grow still.
Photography courtesy of Mareines Arquitetura
Visit Mareines Arquitetura
